Sensex gains 623 pts, closes at 18,446

Mumbai: The BSE benchmark Sensex shot up 623 points in a post-Budget rally, to close at 18,446.50 on Tuesday. It was the biggest single day gain in 21 months.

As the market turned bullish, all the 30-BSE index scraps as well as the 13 sectoral indices closed with gains.

Markets also got a boost following reports of higher export growth numbers and strongest expansion in three months in the six core infrastructure sectors during January.

The Bombay Stock Exchange benchmark Sensex, which gained nearly 200 points in last two trading sessions, recorded a whopping rise of 623.10 points to close at 18,446.50, its biggest single day jump since May, 2009.

Similarly, the broad-based National Stock Exchange index Nifty spurted by 189.05 points to 5,522.30 following a rise in in stocks of auto, bank, realty and capital goods.

The rally was led by handsome gains in auto stocks as monthly sales figures poured in, and government's decision to keep the excise duty unchanged.

Besides, a firming trend in the Asian region and higher opening in Europe fuelled the market sentiment. There was a sharp upsurge in the US markets on hopes of strong economic recovery.

Marketmen said trading sentiment was bolstered after the budgetary proposals said the country will narrow its deficit to 4.6 per cent of GDP in 2011-2012.

The auto sector index gained the most by rising 5.64 per cent to 8,718.22, followed by banking index by 4.35 per cent to 12,355.22. The realty sector shot up by 4.20 per cent to 2,064.81 and capital goods index by 4.19 per cent to 12,918.87.